Whiskey Jack Adventures: Erfoud, Morocco

Another beautiful sunny day. We had been warned it might be chilly and it was but not as cold as we have experienced riding in the past. Canadians are tough. At least that is what we told them.

The first 20 minutes were a bit tense getting through the morning traffic out of Fez, but with a wave of the hand and a little honk the taxis and trucks would usually let us stay in a group. The roundabouts were really busy even with donkeys and carts trying to make their way around. It seemed strange to have a traffic light to let you enter the roundabout.

Soon we were off into the middle Atlas Mountains. If it hadn’t been for the donkeys, sheep and motorcycle pulled carts on the road it would have been hard to believe we were in Morocco with the surroundings. On nearly every sweeping corner there were huge concrete fences to prevent snow from getting on the road. Later on there were fences to prevent sand from coming onto the road. What a contrast in scenery from palms to cedar forests to desert all in one day as we headed south.

We stopped in the cedar forest where monkeys (Barbary macaques) were waiting for us to feed them peanuts. When we think of cedar trees we certainly don’t think monkeys. They were all very polite! They would gently take a peanut but one little guy just kept tucking them under his bum and held out his hand for more. Very cute.

We had been warned about the kids asking for “stylos” pens at the gas stop and sure enough they were there. We gave the one boy a pen and ball but he just wanted more! Finally one of our fellow tour members gave him a little lecture in French and he left us alone.

Again we stopped for a Moroccan lunch. The restaurant settings have been stunning with the mosaic pillars, cushions, tile floors and archways.

Later we rode through a beautiful date palm area. This has been described as a permanent date palm oasis with numerous adobe villages. Very unique, many appearing uninhabited. We have been having dates with our breakfast but they don’t seem as big and firm as what we get in Yuma. This is supposed to be where the Yuma date palms came from.

Tonight we are in a Kasbah, which is a castle-like abode converted into a hotel. We were met in the lobby with Moroccan music, belly dancers and mint tea. We were in awe as we opened our door to the bigger than king size bed and all the desert movie props. Tomorrow is a non-riding day to allow us to explore the desert by ATV, side-by-side or camel. Guess which one we are going to choose.